Equipment Guide
Scissor Lifts: The Complete Guide
What a scissor lift is, what it's used for, electric vs rough terrain, and how to choose the right one on height, platform size and ground conditions.
Sky Operating Services
Practical advice from the SOS team on choosing, hiring and using powered access equipment safely and cost-effectively across South Africa.
Expert Guides
Our guides are written by the SOS team based on 20+ years of experience in the powered access industry in South Africa.
What a scissor lift is, what it's used for, electric vs rough terrain, and how to choose the right one on height, platform size and ground conditions.
Should you rent or buy access equipment? Work through four questions on usage, machine variety, true cost and workload — and the answer usually settles itself.
SOS runs one of the Western Cape's largest powered access fleets — over 200 machines across four categories, with multiple units of each type. Here's what that means for your job.
They look similar in a listing and the working heights often overlap, but articulated and telescopic boom lifts are built for genuinely different jobs. Here's how to choose.
Working height and platform height are not the same number. Here's how to work out the correct machine height for your job — and avoid a wasted delivery.
Scissor lifts, boom lifts, trailer-mounted cherry pickers, telehandlers — what each machine is built for and how SOS matches the right unit to your job.
Most access equipment incidents don't start at height — they start on the ground. Here's how to carry out a proper pre-use inspection before every shift.
Trailer-mounted platforms are one of the most versatile pieces of access equipment available. Find out if they're right for your project.
Working height is the most important spec when hiring access equipment. Here's how to work it out correctly — and why getting it wrong is costly.
Electric or diesel — the choice affects safety, cost and site suitability. This guide helps you decide which power source suits your project.
Not sure whether to hire a boom lift or a scissor lift? We break down the key differences so you can pick the right machine for your job.